Truck structure



oct. 1o, 1939. n. B. -rTRELI. y 2,115,166.

TRUCK STRUCTURE med Nov. 4, 1937 amiens-sheet 1 gg/fm .gag y Oct. l0,1939.

R. B. CCJTTRELVL muck STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Oct. 10, 1939 Taucx STRUCTURE Robert n. com-eu. chime, n1.,signor to Amer. ican Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofNew Jersey application November 4, 1931, serial No. 172,669 as claim(c1. 10s-197.2)

My invention relates to railway trucks and more particularly to the typegenerally known as a four wheel railway truck wherein sidelramesV of thetruss type are commonly used.

In the four wheel railway truck as commonly constructed, the .ends ofthe bolster project through the so-called bolster openings in the spacedside frames and are guided therein by various forms of cooperating guidemeans between the bolster and the side frames. Because of the definitespace limitations that have developed due to the standardization ofrailway rolling stock, vertical clearance between the spring seat at thebottom of the bolster opening and the compression member at the topthereof has been in practice reduced to a minimum in orderto permit amaximum amount of metal in the compression and tension members at themi`ddle portions thereof in the area where the load is applied. Thesestructures are commonly arranged with the bolster openings wide at thebottom and narrow at the top. designed to permit the end of the boltserto be inserted in the wide bottom portion andiretained in position inthe narrower portion by column guide means when' the springs havebeen-inserted under the end of the bolster and positioned on the springseat of the tension member.

Certain operating difficulties arise in connection with trucks of theabove described type.

Wheel wear requires relatively frequent dismantling of the truck inorder to introduce new wheel and axle assemblies. With-the abovementioned common type of truck this requires the removal of the springassembly and lowering of.

the bolster end before the side frame can be disengaged from the wheeland axle assembly.

A further objection to the ordinary truss type y of side frame as abovedescribed results from the diiiiculty of meeting the present dimensionaland test requirements while at the same time presenting a satisfactoryclearance of the bottom of the side frame above the rail. My novel truckA more specic object of my invention is to del sign a novel type of fourwheel truck structure wherein the cooperating parts of the side frameand bolster structures are. so constructed and arv ranged as to permittheraising of the bolster end,

thusudisengaging it from the side frame and permitting outward movementof one end of the side frame whereby the associated-wheel and 5 axleassembly may be removed and replaced.

A further object of my invention is to design anovel type yof truss sideframe conforming to present dimensional standards and capable of meetingpresent test requirements while at' the 10 same time devisingcooperating means on said side frame for connection to an associatedbolster which will permit the dissociation of said bolster from saidside frame without dismantling other `truck p rts including the usualspring assembly. l5

It is further object of my invention to provide a side frame structurewith a novel form of terision member which, in combination with my novelarrangement for connecting the side frame and bolster, will permitexceptionally high rail 20 clearance, a factor much sought after inmodern truck design. More specifically, my invention comprehends atension member having such a novel form between the columns as willpermit a relatively shallowstructure of the tension memg5 ber in thatarea.

With these and various other objects in view my invention may consist ofcertain novel features and combinations thereof which will be moreapparent from a consideration of the asso- 'ciated drawings and thedescription' thereof as Well as the claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a fourwheel truck structure incorporating my in- 35 vention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof and Figure 3 is a sectional view throughthe transverse center line of the side frame shown in conjunction withan end elevation of the bolster and o the associated wheeland axleassembly.

Describing in more detail the modification of my invention shown in thedrawings, the side frame generally designated 2 has the compressionmember 4 and the tension member@ joined 45 intermediate their ends byspaced columns 8, 8,

forming therebetween the window opening I0 and merging in the usualmanner adjacent their ends in the integrally formed journal boxstructure l2 forming a means of cooperation with the 50 journal portionIl of the associated wheel and axle assembly I6. VThe juncture of thejournal box I2 with the tension member Bis reinforced by the ribs I3.'I'he end portions of the vcompression and tension members of the sideframe 55 are U-shaped in cross section, but the center portion ofthecompression member above the window opening I is substantiallyL-shaped and the center portion of the tension member below said windowopening is a shallow box section with upstanding lateral flanges as mostclearly shown in Figure 3. The tension member has the usual centrallylocated spring seat portion |8 defined bythe columns 3, 8 on either sidethereof and the outer retaining flange 20 and inner retaining flange 22within which may be positioned the spring group diagrammaticallyindicated at 24. This special type of tension member section between thecolumns, comprising a shallow box section with a widened upper chordhaving vertlcal flanges which serve as spring retaining means, permitsan` exceptionally high rail clearance by virtue of the shallow depth ofthe said box section below the spring seat portion. In other words, theupstanding flanges on the widened top chord of the shallow box sectionraise the center of gravity of the tension member in this area to apoint which coincides. with the said upper chord. Expressed in anotherway, the neutral axis of this portion of the tension member lies alongthe upper chord of the shallow box section close to the level of thespringfseat.

The windows opening l0 is deilned by the vertical anges 26, 26 inwardlyprojecting from the columns 8,8 on the outer face of the frame and bythe depending ilange\`28 along the outer edge of the compression member4 and by the upstanding ange 20 along the outer edge of the tensionmember 6. Said flange 28 is reinforced by the centrally located rib 28and, likewise, the ange 20 is reinforced by the rib 3|. Joining thespaced side frames 2, 2 is the bolster 36 of general box-like structurehaving the usual 'center bearing 32 for cooperation with the centerbearing of an associated car body and side bearings 34, 34. 'Ihe sidewalls of the bolster may be provided with openings 36 to permit passageof a brake rod, if required, or as a means of lightening the bolsterstructure. The bracket 38 may be secured to the side of the bolster asby rivets 48, 46 or integrally formed thereon as a means of brakeconnection thereto. The ends of the bolster are seated in the usualmanner upon the spring group 24 and positioning lugs 4|, 4| are providedtherefor.

I have arranged a novel form of. connection between the guide columns8,:8 of the side frames and the ends of the bolster. The manner of thiscooperation may be most clearly seen in Figure 2 wherein it will b eobserved that the column guides of the side frame have the centrallylocated vertical guide flange 42 on either side of which are thecylindrical surfaces 44, 44. 'Ihe cylindrical surfaces 44, 44 cooperatewith complementary surfaces 46, 46 formed on the opposite sides of thebolster end. Between the spaced cylindrical surfaces 48, 46 on the sidesof the bolster is formed the channel 48 in form complementary to theguide flange 42 on the associated columns of the side frame.

In the modication illustrated and described herein, I have shown thecolumn guide flanges 42 on the side frame deilned by the lateraldiagonal plane faces 58 and 52 and the intervening plane face 54parallel with the transverse center line of the truck. Of complementaryform -is the channel 48 onthe end ofthe bolster, said channel beingdefined by the faces 4indicated respectively at 56, 58 and 68. It may beobserved that the faces 58, 58 on the opposite columns of the side framelie ln a single plane as do also the other faces 52, 52. The two planesdefined respectively by the faces 50, 58 and by faces 52, 52 intersectin the vertical plane bisecting the truck transversely. Likewise thefaces 56, 56 on the opposite sides of each bolster end dene a singleplane as do also the faces 58, 58 as indicated by the phantom lines and53. It will thus be seen that any tendency of the side frames to becomeout of square with relation to the bolster end results in adequatebearing at each end of the bolster against both of the associated sideframe column guide flanges.

It may be observed that the guide flange 42 on each of the columns 8 islocated centrally of the column structure, the top of said flange beingindicated at 6| (Figure 1) and the bottom thereof at 62. It will also beobserved that in my novel side frame structure I have provided along theinner edge of the center portion of the compression member 4 a wide butshallow flange 64, the bottom face of which indicated at 66 is spacedfrom the top surface v6I of the guide flange 48, a distance indicated atA, suflicient to permit the disengagement of the bolster end from `theguide flanges 42 without disturbing other parts of the assembly.

In my novel truck structure it will be observed that the guide ribs 42are centrally located both vertically and laterally on the side framecolumns, thus permiting clearance at the top Aof the side frame for theapplication or removal of the bolster as above indicated. A very simpleform of guid means is thereby provided and the truck structure as awhole presents an arrangement of maximum simplicity and efficiency.

\ It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exactembodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation as 'various and other'forms of the.

device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claima Iclaim:

l. In a four wheel truck a truss side frame having a compression member,a tension, member,

and integral spaced 'columns forming therewith a central window opening,said compression member having an L-section over said opening with oneleg of said L forming a depending flange defining the outer face of saidframe, a spring seat on said tension member below said opening, a springgroup seated thereon, a bolster having an end projecting into saidopening, guide means on each of said columns comprising a cylindricalsurface and a vertical ang'e centrally located on said column bothvertically and laterally thereof, said bolster end having a depth lessthan its vertical clearance from the other leg of said L and having onopposite sides thereof vertical channels cooperating respectively withsaid flanges and cylindrical faces complementary in form to saidsurfaces, said parts being so constructed as to permit said bolster tobe removed from said opening by elevating said bolster end until saidchannels may be disengaged from said flanges, whereby a wheel change maybe facilitated.

2. In a four wheel railway truck a truss type side frame having acompression member, a tension member, spaced integral columns formingvtherewith a window opening, each of said mem- -bers comprising endportions of U-section outwardly of said columns, said tension memberhaving a vbox section and being widened between said columns andeprovided with upright inner outer flanges 4forming a spring seat andspring y `channels cooperating with said vertical flanges andcylindrical guide faces on opposite sides o f each" of said channelscooperating respectivelyl with 'each of the before mentioned faces, saidbolsterjend having a depth less than the vertical distance from the topsof said guide flanges to said compression member. v

3. In a railway car truck a truss type side `frame having acompressionmember, a tension member, integrally formed columns forming therewith awindow opening, said members having end'portions of U-section outwardlyof said columns, said compression member having an L-section betweensaid columns wth'one leg of said L being in the form of the dependingflange on the outer face Aof said frame, said tension member being ofbox section between said columns and having a widened portion on` theupper face thereof with upstanding inner and outer flanges forming aspring seat and spring retaining means, each of said columns having acentrally located vertical guide flange and cylindrical guide faces onopposite sides of said flange, and a bolster having an end projectinginto said opening, said end having a depth less than the verticaldistance between the top of said guide flange and said compressionmember and having on opposite sides thereof vertical channelscooperating with said vertical flanges.

4. In a railway cartruck a truss type side frame having a compressionmember, a tension member, integrallyformed columns forming therewith awindow opening, said members having end portions of U-section outwardlyof said columns, said compression member having an L-section betweensaid columns with one leg of said L being in the form of the dependingflange on the outer face of said frame, said tension member being of boxsection between said columns and having a widened portion on the upperface thereof with upstanding inner and outer flanges forminga springseat and spring retaining means, each of said columns having a centrallylocated vertical of less depth than the vertical distance between thetops of said guide flanges and said compression member projecting intosaid opening, and vertical channels on opposite sides of said bolstercooperating with said flanges.

5. In a four wheel railway truck a truss side frame having a compressionmember, a tension member and integral columns forming therewith abolster opening, said tension member having between said columns a boxsection of shallow depth the upper chord of which is widened andcolumns. having bolster guide means comprising a cylindrical surfaceanda vertical flange, said flange being centrally located on said columnboth vertically and laterally thereof, and a bolster end projecting intosaid opening, the vertical distance between the tops of said flanges andsaid comof said bolster end.

I guide flange and cylindrical guide faces on opposite sides of saidflange, a bolster having an end provided with upstandng flanges, each ofsaid pression member being at least equal to the depth- 6. In a fourwheel railway truck a truss side frame having a compression member, atension member and integral columns forming a bolster opening, saidtension member below said opening having a shallow box section with awidened upperv chord having upstanding flanges, each of said `columnshaving bolster guide means centrally located thereon, and a bolster endprojecting into said opening and having slot means cooperating with saidguide means, the vertical distance between the tops of said guide meansand said compression member being atleast equalto' the depth of lsaidbolster end.

7. In a. four wheel railway truck a truss type side frame having acompression member, a

tension member, and integral spacedcolumns forming therewith a bolsteropening, said compression member having an L-shaped section over saidbolster opening and said tension member having a box section thereunderlaterally widened to form a spring seat, a spring group seated thereon,each of said columns having a vertical -guide flange centrally locatedthereon both vertically and laterally thereof, anda bolster having anendextending into said opening engaging said flanges and said L sectionhaving a vertical leg and a horizontal leg affording vertical clearancefor said bolster end, whereby said bolster may be raised beneath saidhorizontal leg and disengaged from seated on said spring group, l

said guide flanges and removed from said opening l being of box sectionbetween said columns and having a widened portion on the upper facethereof with upstanding inner and outer flanges forming a spring seatand spring retaining means, each of said columns 4having -a' centrallylocated vertical guide flange with diagonally arranged faces, andcylindrical guide faces on opposite sides of said ange, the verticaldistance between the tops of said guide flanges and the other leg ofsaid L being sufficient to afford clearance for a bolster end of normaldepth.

9. In a four wheel railway car truck a truss type side frame having acompression member with a center portion L-shaped in section, a tensionmember having a center portion of box section, integrally formed spacedcolumns forming with said members a centrally located window opening,said columns having on their opposed faces vertical guide flanges, saidguide flanges being centrally located on saidcolumns both vertically andlaterally thereof, and a bolster having an end projecting into saidopening, said end having on opposite sides thereof vertical channelscooperating respectively with said vertical flanges, said anges havingvertical clearance from said compression member at least equal to thedepth of said bolster end.

10. In a four wheel railway truck a. truss type side frame having acompression member, a tension-member, and-integrally formed spacedcolumns forming therewith a centrally located c bolster' opening, saidcompression member having said L forming a depending ilange on the outerface of said frame to afford vertical clearance for an associatedbolster end, each of said columns having centrally located guide meanscomprising spaced cylindrical surfaces and an intervening verticala'nge, said vertical flange being centrally located on said column bothvertically and laterally thereof, and having vertical clearance with thehorizontal leg of said L Sufficient to admit a bolster end of normaldepth.

1l. In a four wheel railway truck a truss type side frame having-acompression member, a tension member, and integral spaced columnsforming therewith a centrally located bolster opening, said compressionmember having an L-section over said opening with one leg of said Lforming a depending flange on the outer face of said frame, each of saidcolumns having bolster guide means comprising a vertical flange and anadjacent cylindrical surface, said fiange being centrally located onsaid column both vertically and laterally thereof and having suicientvertical clearance from the other leg of said L to afford space for thereception of a bolster end of normal depth.

l2. In a four wheel railway car truck, a truss side frame having acompression member, a tension -member and spaced columns forming abolster opening, said compression member having an L section over saidopening with the depending leg of said L defining the outer face of saidframe, said tension member under said opening having a relatively flatbox section with a widened top chord and upstanding flanges thereonforming a spring seat and spring retaining means, spring means thereon,vertical guide flanges on said columns, and a bolster end extending intosaid opening and-having vertical clearance with said depending leg andslots receiving said guide flanges, said bolster end having a depth lessthan the vertical distance between the tops of said guide flanges andsaid compression member whereby said bolster may be disconnected fromsaid side frame without disturbing said spring means.

13. In a railway truck a truss side frame having a compression member, atension member and spaced columns forming therewith a bolster opening,said compression member having an L section over said opening with thedepending leg of said L defining the outer face ofI said frame, guideflanges centrally located on said columns, and a bolster end extendinginto said opening, said bolster end having slots for said guide flangesand having a depth less than the vertical distance between said guideflanges and said compression member whereby said bolster end may beinserted in said opening over said anges and engaged therewith inassembly.

14. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having acompression member, a tension member and spaced columns forming anopening, vertical guide anges with diagonal faces centrally located onsaid columns, "and a bolster end extending into said opening, saidcompression member having an L section over said opening with adepending leg affording vertical clearance for said bolster end, saidend having slots complementary in form to said guide anges for receptionthereof and having a depth less than the vertical distance between saidguide flanges and said compression member whereby said bolster end maybe inserted' or removed at the top of said opening.

15. In a four wheel truck a truss side frame over said opening with oneleg of said L having a compression member, a tension member, andintegral spaced columns forming therewith a central window opening, saidcompression member having an L-section over said opening with one leg ofsaid L forming a depending flange denlng the outer face of said frame, aspring seat on said tension member below said opening, a spring groupseatedthereon, a` bolster end supported on said spring group and havinga depth less than its vertical clearance from the other leg of said L,and guide means on each of said columns comprising a cylindrical surfaceand a vertical flange centrally located on said column both verticallyand laterally thereof, said bolster end having on opposite sides thereofvertical channels cooperating respectively with said flanges andcylindrical faces complementary in form to said surfaces, said verticalclearance permitting said bolster to be raised from said spring groupand disengaged from said guide means to permit wheel change.

16. In a four wheel railway truck a truss type side frame having acompression member, a tension member, and integral spaced columnsforming therewith a centrally located bolster opening, said compressionmember having an L-section forming a depending flange on the outer faceof said frame, a bolster having an end extending into said opening, andhaving vertical clearance with the other leg of said L at least equal tothe depth of said end, and guide means on said columns comprising avertical flange and spaced cylindrical surfaces, complementary guidemeans on opposite sides of said bolster end comprising centrally locatedvertical channels and spaced cylindrical surfaces complementary in formto said first mentioned cylindrical surfaces, said parts being soconstructed and arranged as to permit removal of said bolster end fromsaid opening by elevation thereof until said channels on said bolsterend are disengaged from said anges on said columns.

17. In a four wheel railway truck, a side frame having a top member, abottom member, and columns therebetween forming a window opening, saidbottom member below said opening having 'a shallow box section with awidened upper chord having upstanding flanges, each of said columnshaving bolster guide means centrally located thereon, and a bolster endprojecting into said opening with slot means receiving said guide means,said bolster end having a de'pth no greater than the vertical distancebetween the tops of said guide means and said top member.

18. In a railway truck, a side frame having a top member, a bottommember, and integral columns forming a window opening, saidbottom memberbelow said opening having a shallow box section with a widened upperchord having upstanding flanges, each of said columns having bolsterguide means centrally located therein, and

having channels receiving s'aid guide means, said bolster and s aidguide means having vertical clearance from said top member at leastequal to the depth of said bolster end.

19. In a railway truck, a side frame having a top member, a bottommember, and spaced vertical members forming therewith a window opening,a spring seat on said bottom member beneath said opening, a spring groupthereon, said top member having an L-section over said opening with thedepending leg thereof defining the outer face of said frame, and thehorizontal leg thereof a. bolster end projecting into said opening anddening the top of said framefguide ilanges centrally located .on saidvertical members, and a load carrying member having an end seated onsaid spring group, said end having vertical channels receiving said gideilanges and having a depth less than the vertical distance between saidguide ilanges and said horizontal leg, whereby said end may be insertedinto said opening over said anges and engaged therewith in assembiy onsaid spring group.

20. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a top member, a bottommember, and spaced vertical members forming an opening, a spring groupon said bottom member in said opening, vertical guide ilanges withdiagonal faces centrally located on said vertical members, and a loadcarrying member having an end seated on said spring group in saidopening, said top member having an L-section over said opening with wsaid bottom member below said opening having a shallow box section witha widened upper chord having upstanding iianges, each of said columnshaving bolster guide means centrally located thereon both vertically andlaterally thereof, and

alv a bolster-end projecting into said openingfwith a horizontal leg,said end having vertical chan slot means receiving said guide means, theportion of said bolster in abutment with said guide v means having adepth no greater .than the ver- Vtical distancebetween the tops of saidvguide means and said top member.

22. In a railway truck, a side frame having a top member, a bottommember, and integral columns forming a window opening, said bottommember below said opening having a shallow box section with a widenedupper chord having upstanding anges, each .of said columns havingbolster guide means centrally located thereon both vertically andlaterally thereof, and a bolster end projecting into said opening andhaving channels receiving said guide means, said bolster and said guidemeans having vertical clearance from said top member at least equal tothe depth of the portion of said bolster having abutment with said guidemeans.

23. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having acompression member, a `tension member and integral. columns forming abolster opening, said tension member below said opening having a shallowbox section with a widened upper chord having upstanding ang'es, each ofsaid columns having bolster guide means centrally located thereon bothvertically and laterally thereof. and a bolster endprojecting into saidopening and having' slot means cooperating-with said guide means, thevertical distance between the tops of said guide means and saidcompression member being at least equal to the depth of that portion ofsaid bolster adjacent said guide means.

- ROBERT B. co'r'r'rtnnl.v

